H i, I am new here and I have been researching online but feel this is the best place to contact and get advice can someone help me on the below. I take Levo 50mg. Keep feeling lightheaded. Do I need T3 do I need more levo??? Anyone similar?
Serum TSH level 0.08
Serum free T4 level 14.6
Serum free T3 level 6.1
Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs. 488 U/ml 0.00 - 115.00U/ml
Anti-TPO Antibodies 35 U/ml 0.00 - 34.00U/ml
Hi Maryah85, welcome to the forum.
So, you have Hashi's, because your antibodies are over-range. Did you know that?
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Difficult to assess your FT4 and FT3 because you haven't put the ranges - ranges vary from lab to lab so we always need to put them with our results. But, it looks as if your FT3 is quite high, so I don't think you need more of that. 
How long have you been on 50 mcg levo?
Did you do your test early morning and fasting?
Did you leave a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood draw?
Hi Greygoose, Thanks for replying. I can't seem to edit my post to add the ranges. Not sure if you can make sense of the below.
I have been taking 50mg since April after an increase from 25mg. I did test early in the morning without taking levo since the day before, although I did eat a normal breakfast.
I just hope I can get better as feeling dizzy lightheaded spells is not ideal.
Serum free T3 level 6.1 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80pmol/L
Serum TSH level 0.08 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20mIU/L
Serum free T4 level 14.6 pmol/L 11.00 - 21.20pmol/L
Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs. 488 U/ml 0.00 - 115.00U/ml
Anti-TPO Antibodies 35 U/ml 0.00 - 34.00U/ml
Also is hashis a def? Or can you have anti bodies without it? Doctor has not said
Does a normal breakfast include coffee? Because that will lower your TSH.
You actually could do with an increase in levo - your FT3 is good - but doubtful your doctor will give you one because your TSH is low. But, when we have Hashi's, things can change suddenly, so you do need to keep testing. Was this a private test or done by your GP?
Interesting I just spoke to my Endo specialist on the phone who actually wanted to lower my Levo. She says that because TSH is suppressed and T4 is ok and T3 so maybe to lower my Levo slightly. She also said I need an MRI to see if it is my Pit gland causing the issues or if it is indeed Hashi's. For now she says stick to taking 50mg and see.
In terms of breakfast yes it includes a juice and coffee and eggs or porridge. The test was done by the hospital. I just want my lightheadedness to stop and I hope I get my levels right and the answers soon. I am interested to see what you think? The specialist says it may not be Hashi's it may be a gland problem.
A gland problem? Which gland? The thyroid is a gland and the problem with your thyroid gland is that it is being attacked by your immune system and slowly destroyed. You have high antibodies. That can't be anything but Hashi's. You may have a pituitary problem as well, but that wouldn't cause the high antibodies.
If your endo is dosing by the TSH, then she doesn't know much about thyroid. It is the least important number. The most important number is the FT3. But, that could be high due to the Hashi's variation, not to do with your dose of levo.
Levo is T4 and has to be converted to T3, and nobody converts that well! And, your FT4 is only 35.29% through the range, which is not 'ok' at all. A euthyroid FT4 is around 50%. So, you really do not need a decrease in your dose. Doubtful if your FT3 will stay that high for long with that low FT3. And if she reduces your dose to a rediculous 25 mcg - a starter dose for children - your FT3 will drop very low.
Do you have your results from when you were diagnosed?
Hi, These are results from Feb before any medication. The MRI is to check my Pit gland and to see the cause. The specialist said she cant say if it's Hashi's yet or not.
Serum free T4 level 10.1 pmol/L 11.00 - 21.20pmol/L
Serum TSH level 2.03 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20mIU/L
I did not have T3 done on this test and below were my results in March after taking 25 levo
Anti-TPO Antibodies : 33 [0 - 33 U/ml]
Free Thyroxine Level :10.7 [10.0 - 23.0 pmol/L]
Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs. 493 [0 - 114 U/ml] Luteinising Hormone Level 25/03/21 4.8 [ IU/L] Free Tri-iodothyronine Level : 4.3 [3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L]
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone : 0.66 [0.27 - 4.20 mIU/L]
Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 Level 43.5 [10.2 - 40.7 nmol/L]
Prolactin Level :289 [102 - 496 mIU/L]
OK, I see where your endo is coming from. Your TSH has never corresponded with your FT4 level, although your FT3 wasn't too bad. So, there could be a pituitary problem, agreed. But, just because there's a problem with the pituitary, it doesn't rule out Hashi's. You can - and some people do - have both at the same time.
But, whatever the cause, the treatment for hypothyroidism is the same: thyroid hormone replacement - levo and/or T3 or NDT. The difference is that with Secondary Hypo - pituitary problem - one has to completely ignore the TSH because it doesn't tell you anything.
Also, the pituitary makes a lot of other hormones, apart from TSH. And, some of those could also be low, causing problems. So, is she planning to test for those, too? I see she's tested for IGF1 which is an indicator of Human Growth Hormone levels, and that is high. But, it can be high - or low - independantly of HGH levels. Prolactin was lowish. If it were me in this situation, I would want my ATCH tested, because that has an effect on the adrenals, which are closely linked to thyroid.
But, you still need that levo, and you don't need a reduction in dose whatever the TSH says.
Hi, really appreciate your help and input on this I'll mention the test you said. Someday I feel so weak and lightheaded and I'm sure it's down to my thyroid. I was worried re a pituitary tumour, but I'll keep positive and it's good to know the treatment is Levo either way. I'll research NDT. Do you think Iodine supplements would help or is it best to mess too much? I take B12, Vid D, selenium, Magnesium. Thanks again
Pituitary tumours are normally benign.
Iodine supplements really wouldn't help and would probably make things a whole lot worse.
If you're taking B12 your should also be taking a B complex, because the Bs all work together and need to be kept balanced. Did you get your B12 and folate tested before starting supplements?
If you're taking vit D, you should also be taking vit K2- MK7 because taking vit D increases your absorption of calcium from food, and K2 makes sure it goes into the teeth and bones, and doesn't build up in the soft tissues causing problems.
ok great thanks re above. my thyroid test in 2018 showed a Tsh or 1.24 and t4 of 11.3 so maybe I've had this a long time
I expect you have. It takes a long time for the symptoms to get to the point where they drive us to take action, because the adrenals take over. So, unless hypo is picked up in a routine blood check, we've all usually been hypo for quite a while before diatnosis.
Thanks for your information today. I will wait to see on MRI but Hashi makes sense not that it’s confirmed I have it yet, but with my symptoms sometimes I feel like I flare. Thanks for helping me understand it all
Not sure you've understood what a Hashi's 'flare' is. It's not your hypo symptoms getting worse, it's temporary hyperthyroidism.
I see! For example last week for two days I was jittery anxious and feeling dizzy on/off. Then I was fine the rest of the week. Is that a flare? Is it possible to have Hashimoto and something wrong with the pituary gland hence my results? It’s tricky understanding all this and figuring out if being on 50mg is the right dose
No, I don't think that was a flare. It wouldn't come and go that quickly.
It is indeed possible to have Hashi's and a pituitary problem at the same time, of course. One doesn't exclude the other.
If you look at your FT4 result, you'll see that 50 mcg isn't the right dose. Your FT4 is much too low.
Thanks for helpful info, I can feel it is low. When I was first diagnosed in Feb, I ended up in A&E I was so exhausted I couldn't go out and felt faint/lightheaded most days. Then I got put on 25 and started feeling better, then 50 levo but now the tiredness and fainting feeling is back so I am sure it needs adjusting, but the Endo is adamant to not increase. My appointment is not till august. I hope I get my meds and levels right.
Help! I haven't got a clue....T3
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